You say coincidence

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chapter 9

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I collapsed into a chair next to my sister and lay my head on the table. I felt blue. Not happy blue though, that stormy grey blue. I felt stormy grey blue. I didn’t know it was possible to actually feel like a colour. But I was blue. I wonder if I looked blue.

“Do I look blue?” I mumbled into my hands, lifting my head slightly and looking towards Leslie. “I think my skin might be tinged or something…”

“You fall into an inkpot?” Leslie replied without taking her eyes away from the newspaper. I mumbled a response into my hands that was impossible to hear and Leslie glanced over at me curiously before putting down the paper. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d read the newspaper. I felt like a failure.

“Something wrong?” Leslie asked shortly, taking a sip of her orange juice. I shrugged and picked up the newspaper she’d just discarded, deciding that today would be the day I’d educate myself. I heard Leslie sigh from beside me. “I know, this Christmas thing sucks, hey.”

I felt lost for a few seconds before I remembered what she was talking about. So she thought I was being sad about Christmas, when in actual fact I was sulking about the fact that I’d never become a super spy in my life. I couldn’t even successfully break into a little country house, even if it did belong to a robber. Ahh well… life is blue. “Yeah… Christmas.”

“Come on.” My sister stood up and took my hand, pulling me up as well. I gave her a questioning glance and she smiled. “Let’s go out.”

I pursed my lips a little, shrugging. “Well… you know, sis, I think it’s a little against the law for sisters to have romantic relations, but if that doesn’t-”

She tugged my hand suddenly and I jerked forward, nearly tripping over. I forgot she was still holding my hand. I glared at her, using the kitchen bench top to steady myself.

“Idiot.” She rolled her eyes but I could see a smile on her face. I grinned. “Go get ready.”

“So, where are we going?” I asked as we locked the door behind us five minutes later. Leslie had insisted she had to change in case she ran into someone she knew and was looking stunning in a short patterned dress. I, as usual, was just wearing shorts and a t-shirt feeling a little stupid next to my sister. Damn her for getting all the good genes in the family!

“You look fine, Lyd, and no, I did not get all the good genes in the family, you’re just as attractive. Now hurry up,” Leslie said absently, ignoring my question and unlocking her car. I was once again amazed at her ability to read me. My sister was psychic, I swear. “No, I’m not psychic, you just need to learn how to mutter softer. I can hear you.”

“I do not mutter loud, I mutter fine,” I said eventually, getting into the car. “And thank you.” Leslie gave me a look, raising her eyebrow questioningly as she started the car. “You said I was attractive. I was thanking you.” Leslie laughed and I felt instantly stupid. “Where are we going?” I asked again as I opened my wallet to check how much money I had.

“Safire Point,” Leslie said shortly, concentrating on the road.

“Why?”

She smiled, still keeping her eyes on the road. “Shopping.”

“Like… clothes… and shoes?” I said hopefully.

She chuckled. “Yes, like clothes and shoes. And I’ve got to get a dress for the date I have with Brian on Saturday.”

I smiled the prospect of shopping making me feel instantly in a better mood. “Awesome. How’s that going? With Brian?”

I saw her cheeks redden a little and my smile widened. “Good.” She answered.

“Leslie…” I whined.

“It’s really good.”

“Leeesslliiieeeeeee.”

“He’s really nice.”

“Leeesssslliiiiiiieeee-”

“I need to concentrate on driving so I don’t get us both killed,” she interrupted quickly.

I crossed my arms. “Fine.”

Half an hour later we were walking around the shops. “Oh, look!” I said, pulling Leslie into a small clothes shop and holding a t-shirt up in front of me. She rolled her eyes. “It’s just like everything else you own.”

I frowned. “I like it.”

“Try it then.” She picked up a dress absently, holding it against herself in front of the mirror and then making a face. “Wrong colour.”

I gave the shirt in my hand another look. “Yeah, it is like my other clothes.”

“It is.” Her eyes lit up suddenly, “Oh, your birthday’s coming up soon. Like really soon.”

“Yes it is, Nancy Drew, I would never have thought.”

She gave me a look and I just smiled innocently back at her. “Let’s get you a dress too!”

“What kind of dress?” I asked suspiciously.

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but it’s your eighteenth! You need to have a dress.”

“I have dresses.”

“Not nice dresses.”

I gasped dramatically. “You’re insulting my clothes!”

“Damn right, kid.” She pulled me out of the shop and started walking back the way we’d just come. “And you might need a new one for Christmas too.”

“Not for Christmas.”

She glanced back at me. “Why not?”

“Because I refuse to spend any money to look good for our Father.”

There was a silence between us as Leslie led us into a fairly big dress shop. “Alright, not one for Christmas,” Leslie said quietly.

I looked towards her and frowned. “I ruined it.”

“Ruined what?”

“The shopping trip, we were meant to be happy.”

Leslie forced a smile and shrugged. “Not your fault.” She picked up a dusty pink dress and began examining the beading on the sleeves. “We should talk about it anyway.”

I inspected a dark red dress. “Yeah, well, not too much to say.”

“You hate it,” Leslie stated.

“Don’t you?” I asked curiously.

“Well, sort of.” Leslie hesitated. “But don’t you just want to see him again?”

I paused, considering this for a moment as Leslie picked up a knee length floral dress. I sighed before nodding. “I hate that I want to see him.”

Leslie smiled at me sadly. “Yeah, well, life’s a bitch.” I chuckled. “So, what do you think about this one?”

I gave her a look. “You hate floral print on clothes.”

She shrugged. “It’s nice on this one.”

I didn’t miss the slight blush covering her cheeks. “Brian likes flowers,” I teased in a sing-song voice.

She shook her head. “No, well, I don’t know if he does, but, fine, ok.” She admitted.

“Brian likes flowers?”

She laughed. “No, not flowers… but we were watching a movie and someone was wearing a floral print dress and he said it looked hot.” Her cheeks were red now and I laughed. “Not funny,” she whined.

“A little funny,” I replied.

She held the dress in front of her again, taking another look in the mirror. “You’re right, I hate floral print dresses.”

I smiled and picked up a floaty purple silk dress. “I’m trying this one on.”

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“You really didn’t have to do that.” I said again as we walked out of the shop, both holding bags.

“If you say that again I’m taking it back and returning it.”

I shut up immediately, clutching the bag to my stomach. “Don’t take it away from me.”

She laughed. “It was perfect on you, and it’s for your birthday so don’t expect a present.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I don’t.”

She glanced back down at the bag in her hand. “It really looked good?” She asked, biting her lip hesitantly.

“If I was Brian I’d fall in love with you.” I said seriously, nodding my head and widening my eyes.

“Well good thing….” She trailed off.

“Good thing what? Good thing I’m not Brian? Good thing I didn’t buy the dress? Good thing I-”

“Is that Dominic?” She pointed towards a couple sitting on a bench and whispering to each other.

I strained my eyes, trying to see. “Yeah… I think it is… with a female.”

“But…” Leslie didn’t need to finish the sentence; I knew what she meant.

“Weird.”

“We should look away before they see us staring.”

“Good idea.” I looked up at Leslie and I’m sure I had a horrified look on my face. “But Dominic’s with a female.”

Leslie chuckled. “Wow.”

“But he’s in love with you.”

Leslie just shrugged and started moving again. “Good thing, maybe he’s finally found someone else. The roses were getting old.”

I didn’t move. “We should warn her, before she realises he’s a nutcase.”

Leslie seemed half amused and half horrified. “You will do no such thing.”

“But what if… Oh My God.”

Leslie looked alarmed, looking back at them and then at me. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I know her,” I shrieked and then felt mighty stupid when people around us began to stare.

Leslie took my hand and dragged me away and towards the food court. “Who is she?” She asked, too curious to bother about telling me off for attracting so much attention.

“It’s Melissa, from our school.”

“The girl you and Kat hate?”

“Yes!” I tried turning being me to get another look but Leslie took hold of my arm and pulled me away. “It’s weird,” I said quickly, “Because they hated each other.”

Leslie shrugged in a ‘what can you do?’ kind of gesture and then sat down at a table. “I don’t know, it’s possible to get over hate, I guess.”

“I guess,” I replied reluctantly.

“Or maybe they were just acting in school?”

“I don’t know.” I said eventually. “Dominic and a girl….” I turned back to Leslie. “This must be a big moment for you huh? How do you feel?”

Leslie laughed. “Like I’ve finally found freedom!” she exclaimed.

We spent the rest of the day shopping and laughing and hanging out like we hadn’t done in a really long time. I forgot all about Jay and my father and my mother and Christmas and for once in a very long time finally felt happy.

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“No.”

“Come on, Lyd.”

“I don’t want to.” I think I was whining. Ah well.

“Just go into the store and get some milk or we can’t have coffee tomorrow,” Leslie repeated. We were parked just outside the small grocery store a few streets away from our house. Leslie had just realised that she needed milk for her coffee tomorrow morning. I refused to get it for her, mostly because I just felt like complaining.

“But I’m tired and my feet hurt,” I continued. “You do it.”

“I’m wearing a dress.”

I gave her a look. “So? It’s not a formal dress.”

“I don’t care, just go.”

I scrunched up my nose. “But it’s hot outside.”

“I’ll give you extra money for chocolate.”

“Done.”

Leslie handed me some money and I got out of the nicely air conditioned car and into the furnace outside, darting quickly through the doors to the grocery store. I made my way to the chocolate section first picking up a chocolate bar. I turned to walk to the next aisle and crashed into someone – as in actually collided. I stumbled backwards but caught myself by grabbing onto the stand next to me. “Sorry I didn’t-” I froze mid sentence. Dusty white sneakers, black jeans, green t-shirt, bright blue eyes, dark brown hair… shit.

“Twice in less than twenty four hours.” His lips were curved and his eyes sparkling. “This can’t just be coincidence.”

“I’d say more like bad luck,” I responded without thinking. I pursed my lips. “Really bad luck.” I tried to walk past him to get into the next aisle but he put his hand out, stopping me. I exhaled slowly to stop myself from murdering him. Remember your ‘no physical violence’ rule, Lyd? “Why are you here?” I snapped.

“I needed cheese.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Cheese?”

“Yeah, cheese.” He looked down at the chocolate bar in my hand. “Plain chocolate fan are we? I prefer Mars Bars myself.”

“Why are you talking to me?” I managed to get out. He was close to me. Really close. I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable, but I would not back down! I would win! I lifted my head, and looked him straight in the eye. This was probably the first time I’d gotten such a close look at his face and I couldn’t help but be intimidated. His eyes were this dazzling blue that felt like I could have been looking into the ocean on a summer day… and now I’m sprouting poetry. Really bad poetry. I decided I needed to get out of there.

“Shouldn’t I be?” He was so close that he didn’t even have to raise his voice above a whisper and that scared me a little. I don’t think I’d ever been this close to a guy, especially an extremely attractive guy. I’d lost all gist of the conversation and had no clue what he was replying to.

He didn’t break eye contact and neither did I, which resulted in us standing uncomfortably close together and staring into each other’s eyes like we were in love. Whoah, love? Lyd, slow down! You hate the guy.

I needed my personal space back; my mind didn’t work well in confinement.

I broke eye contact and took a very discreet step backwards, hoping that he wouldn’t notice it. His eyes flickered down to my feet and back to my eyes, I saw his lips lift slightly and I suddenly remembered why I hated him so much. “Stop acting like everything is okay,” I hissed. I felt a little like a cat.

“And is everything not okay?”

Stop answering me in questions! “No, it's not.” I tried to sound intimidating and I’m not sure it worked, because suddenly he took a small step closer to me and closed the distance again. I felt like I was in a cage.

His smile widened as he obviously noticed my discomfort. “Care to explain to me how things are not ok?”

“Actually,” I said as calmly as I could. “I would love to explain to you how things are not okay. For example, my best friend has just been robbed as has my next door neighbour and you are an arrogant jerk.”

His smile dissapeared suddenly and he ran a hand through his hair. The sudden change in his demeanor confused me. “I am not a robber, Lydia.”

“I’m not an idiot, Jay.”

“I didn’t take your friend’s freaking locket.” His face was serious and his voice reeked of forced civility which I tried very hard to duplicate.

“I don’t believe you Jay.”

“Lyd, why can’t you-”

“Don’t call me Lyd.” I snapped.

“Lydia, can you just-”

“The first time I met you, you were robbing my house.” I lifted my head to look him straight in the eye, trying to keep up with the sudden change in the conversation. “I can’t believe you didn’t rob my neighbour, or my best friend, but the freaking police won’t listen to me. I agree there is nothing I can do about this, but stop looking at me and talking to me like you’ve done nothing wrong.” My tone was polite, but it felt so fake I didn’t even know why I bothered.

“I have done nothing wrong.” I rolled my eyes, starting to walk away but he caught my arm, stopping me. “Don’t you think that if even the police don’t believe you, then maybe I’m telling the truth?” He said as if it were the most obvious conclusion in the world.

I shook his arm off me, irritated. “The police system is fucked.”

He was loosing his patience. “Lyd, why can’t you-”

“Don’t call me Lyd.” I snapped.

“Lydia, listen to me.”

“I don’t want to.” I sounded two years old, but I didn’t care.

He caught my arm in his hand again, pulling me closer to him. “Lyd, just-”

“Don’t touch me.” I screeched pushing him off me suddenly. He stumbled, not ready for my violent act. He fell backwards and knocked over a stand of canned corn. The crash was deafening; cans fell to the ground and rolled over the floor, some smashing open and spraying corn everywhere.

Jay was in the middle of the mess, lying on the ground in a mess of tangled limbs, tinned corn piled on top of him. He winced slightly as he sat up and watched the tins fall off him, trying to wipe off the corn which had splattered onto his jeans. “Shit.”

I spent all of three seconds watching him before turning and walking away silently to the milk aisle, leaving him to explain the mess to the shop keeper who had just appeared on the scene. I left five dollars on the counter for the milk and the chocolate and stalked out the doors, not bothering to even glance back at him.

“What kept you so long?” Leslie inquired as I climbed back into the car. “I was about to send out a search party and call security.”

I groaned. “Life is blue.”

Leslie gave me a look. “I heard a crash.”

“Tinned corn.”

There was a moment’s silence and I almost expected her to ask me to explain, but instead she just turned on the car and smiled softly. “It always is.”

I felt incredibly grateful towards her in that moment and let her know it. “Chocolate?”

Leslie’s smile widened. “Yes please!”

I let myself forget everything again. I was too tired to try and face any of it, but I knew eventually something would have to happen. Just not right now.

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a/n- I AM SORRY SORRY SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT. This chapter has been written for an embarrassingly long time, but I have been attempting to edit and change it because I am NOT completely happy with it. I did however decide that I needed to post something because it has been a very long time. You may receive two alerts for this chapter, this is because I posted it, realised that Jay’s character wasn’t right, took it off, rewrote it a bit, and then posted it again.

ANYWAY. I am also sorry for not replying to all your wonderful reviews! I promise I still love you all! I’m just really busy. Thankyou everyone for all your reviews! They make me incredibly happy.

So, I’ll see you all later! Bye! I hope you liked the chapter!